Participating

A "participating" committee refers to a technical committee in which Canada participates actively, and in which Canada has an obligation to vote on all submitted questions.

Observing

When a committee has "observing" status, it means that Canada follows the work of the committee as an observer and cannot make any comments about the development process or vote on any of the submitted questions.

Standby

Committees that are in "standby" status have no work item in progress, nor foreseen for the future, but are required to continually review the standards for which they are responsible. 

1. Review applications
2. Compile short-list of candidates
3. Phone screen interviews
4. Conduct interviews
5. Check references
6. Offer employment
7. Advise interviewed candidates not selected

Most job opportunities remain open until the position is filled; however, SCC reserves the right to remove the job posting at any time.  It is recommended that you visit the site often to keep up-to-date with our job openings.

Please make sure to tell the HR representative of your special accommodation needs when you are contacted for an interview.

SCC-accredited SDOs are fully expected to continue their long-standing coordination practice to avoid duplication within the Canadian standards development environment and to promote opportunities for harmonization wherever possible.

The Requirements & Guidance – Accreditation of Standards Development Organizations directly address possible duplication of standards in the system (Clause 4.3, Avoiding Duplication):

“SDOs shall make every effort to address the need of the Canadian stakeholder(s) and to not duplicate or overlap with the work of other SDOs, or relevant international or regional SDOs.”

The Duplication Resolution Mechanism was updated as part of the 2017 revision of the Requirements & Guidance – Accreditation of Standards Development Organizations with the goal of reaching a timely outcome and a decision that is responsive to Canadian stakeholder needs. These updates include a more proactive role for SCC to facilitate discussions between SDOs, the introduction of specific evaluation criteria, a clearer complaint and appeal process, and a compliance and verification process with Action Plan (issued following SCC decision on duplication).

SCC’s role is to support the standardization priorities of government and industry in Canada, and, as such, welcome comments and suggestions by stakeholders on approaches to avoid duplication of efforts.

No it does not. The standards from these organizations do not necessarily meet the SCC Requirements & Guidance for Standards Development Organizations (SDOs). SDOs can bring their standards under SCC oversight as National Standards of Canada (NSCs) after they ensure SCC’s requirements have been met.

For the purposes of the Standards Council's Member Program, you are a member if you are not an employee of the Standards Council, but find yourself doing most or all of the following:

• undertaking tasks or responsibilities on behalf of the Standards Council;
• taking part in policy committees, technical committees, sub-committees or task, working or ad-hoc groups of these committees; or assessments as part of an accreditation program;
• offering your time, skills, knowledge and energy to advance the objectives of the Standards Council;
• representing Canada in regional or international standardization forums;
• working on behalf of your organization or stakeholder group in partnership with the Standards Council and the National Standards System; or
• doing all of this because of your background or expertise in a particular subject area.

Members are expected to demonstrate:

• active participation, commitment, willingness to undertake committee work, and prepare required reports and meeting documents;
• ability and willingness to meet and respect deadlines, and follow SCC procedures, directives and terms of reference;
• ability to travel and attend meetings nationally/internationally;
• commitment to participate in committee work electronically and in-person;
• sufficient time, resources, and financial support to actively participate on committees;
• representation of stakeholder groups and views;
• ability to work within a group environment; and
• the knowledge and technical expertise related to the committee or group.

Candidates wishing to apply for a volunteer position are required to be either a Canadian citizen or resident of Canada, or working for a Canadian organization. 

You will receive an automatic confirmation after submitting your application online. Your application will remain on file and will be considered for the specific position for which you have applied.

The main difference between SCC and government regulators is that SCC promotes the use of voluntary standards whereas government regulators use mandatory regulations that require others to follow a set of obligations.

Voluntary standards are developed through consensus among stakeholders in a particular field. Stakeholders may include industry, government and the public.

One example of a voluntary standard is the plug. Electronics manufacturers agree to use the same kind of plug on all equipment and, as a result, plugs on electronic devices fit in all outlets.

One example of a mandatory regulation is nutrition labels on packaged food which are a mandatory requirement of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Canada’s national standardization network is the network of people and organizations involved in voluntary standards development, promotion and implementation in Canada.

There are hundreds of organizations accredited by SCC to look after the day-to-day work of standards development, certification of persons, calibration and proficiency testing, management systems registration, and auditor training and certification.

Other government and non-governmental bodies also take part in the national standardization network. Some of these participate in accreditation programs as SCC partners. Others work on standards-related issues such as international trade agreements.

Almost 15,000 volunteers from industry, government, non-governmental organizations and the general public are involved in developing standards. Volunteers also provide their expertise to accreditation programs and advisory committees. Even the members of SCC’s Governing Council are volunteers. The employers who support the work of these volunteers are important contributors to the national standardization network.

For complete information on how to participate in international standardization visit: Get Involved in Standardization. 

For more information, visit Canadian Standards Development: Program Overview.

A standard may be withdrawn if it:

• is not up-to-date technically
• does not reflect current practice or research
• is not suitable for new and existing applications (products, systems or processes)
• is not compatible with current views and expectations regarding quality, safety and the environment

This status is also used if:

• the standard is withdrawn and not replaced by the author for any of the reasons mentioned above
• there has been a change in the standard designation (e.g. if CSA A1234-2000 is superseded by CSA B5678-2005)

In the broadest sense, a standard is anything that tells you how to do, test or identify something. For example, a recipe for spaghetti sauce is a standard. However, standards in government or business most often refer to a particular type of standard: a document developed by a committee of interested experts and published by a recognized standards body that provides independent and widely accepted guidance.

For more information, visit SCC’s orientation module Introduction to Standards and the Standards Council of Canada. 

Standards are developed through consensus by participating committees of affected stakeholders that may include representatives from industry, governments, academia and the public interest. These committees are organized and managed by an organization that specializes in the development of standards. In Canada, standards development organizations are accredited by the SCC.

For more information, visit SCC’s orientation module Introduction to Standards and the Standards Council of Canada.

International standards are developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). SCC coordinates Canada's input in international standardization work.

For more information, visit SCC’s orientation module Introduction to Canadian Participation in ISO and IEC.

For more information on how a standard is developed, visit Developing Standards.

To search for an NSC on SCC’s website:

• use the Search function (located in the top right-hand corner on www.scc.ca)
• select the tab labelled Standards
• under “Filter by type” select “Canadian Standards”

The search will provide all NSCs by publication date. You may further refine your search using the additional filters on the right side of the page. Scroll through the list and click on a standard’s number to read its description and to find out how to purchase a copy.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), in partnership with the Communications Security Establishment (link is external) (CSE), offers accreditation for information technology (IT) security evaluation and testing laboratories. The CSE is a federal government agency that delivers information technology security solutions to the Canadian government. SCC provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories that perform testing in the following areas:

• Biometric device testing
• Common criteria product and system evaluations
• ITS product reviews
• Secure electronic commerce application evaluations
• Specialized commercial security device testing
• Vulnerability and tiger team testing

SCC does not develop standards or verify the conformity of products or services to standards but rather accredits the organizations that do. To find a certification body, visit the appropriate accreditation program on our website. 

In principle, the vast majority of Canadian and international standards are voluntary.

In practice, the demands of the marketplace make many standards mandatory. A bolt manufacturer whose products do not fit a standard nut, for example, will probably not have many customers.

Buyers who want to assess whether their suppliers provide goods that conform to standards have a number of options. They may take supplier’s word for it. They may check the products themselves. They may also insist that the supplier ask an independent third party to verify the products conformity. These third parties often indicate conformity by putting their own label, or mark, on the product.

Government regulators make a standard mandatory by referring to it in legislation. Provincial and territorial electrical codes, for example, require electrical products to conform to Canadian electrical safety standards. Under these regulations, products cannot be sold unless they have been tested and certified by a recognized conformity assessment body.

One way of recognizing conformity assessment bodies is through accreditation. SCC is Canada’s national accreditation body for organizations that provide standards-related conformity assessment services.

For more information visit SCC’s orientation module, Accreditation: Where Standards, quality and conformity meet about the value and importance of accreditation. SCC also has a searchable directory of accredited certification bodies. 

Certificates issued by a certification body typically include an identifying logo of an accreditation body on them. Using the name on the logo, you can check the accreditation body’s website for a directory of accredited certification bodies. Contact the certification body that issued the certificate to verify its validity.

Certification bodies accredited by SCC are listed in SCC’s Directory of Accredited Certification Bodies, however it does not contain information on certificates issued by the certification bodies.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) offers accreditation to laboratories that perform the analysis of all media used in mining exploration and processing. SCC provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories conducting mineral and mineral assay analysis in support of the mining and mining exploration industries. In order to add even greater value to its accreditation program, SCC accredits both single-element and multiple-element test methods for a wide variety of metals. SCC offers accreditation in the following mineral analysis disciplines:

• sediments
• rocks
• ores
• metal products
• tailings
• water
• vegetation

SCC provides formal recognition of competence for laboratories calibrating measuring instruments and reference standards for areas of metrology, including:

• Acoustics and vibration
• Dimensional
• Electrical
• Frequency and time
• Ionizing radiation
• Mechanical
• Photometric and radiometric
• Temperature
• Other

For more information For more information, please contact SCC Accreditation Services at accreditation@scc.ca. Laboratories seeking accreditation under this program should apply directly to NRC/CLAS.

NRC/CLAS contact

Christine de Groot, P.Eng.
Leader, Assessment Services, NRC Metrology
christine.degroot@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, 1-613-998-6813

Accreditation is the formal verification of an organization's competence to carry out a specific function. SCC is Canada’s national accreditation body. It accredits testing and calibration laboratories, medical laboratories, inspection bodies, greenhouse-gas verifiers and validators, and organizations that develop standards. SCC also accredits organizations that certify persons, as well as those that certify conformity of products, processes, systems and services.

Additionally, SCC is the only monitoring authority in Canada that grants recognition to the OECD Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) program.

Because SCC accreditation is based on internationally recognized criteria, SCC accreditation provides confidence and credibility in products, systems and services both in Canada and abroad.

For more information  visit SCC’s orientation module Accreditation: Where standards, conformity and quality meet.

An organization can self-proclaim certification or compliance to any standard.

While "self-certifying" or "self-declaring" compliance to a standard doesn't carry the same weight as third-party certification (e.g. SCC or CSA), organizations that do this are not actually doing anything wrong or illegal.

However, if you are concerned that a business is falsely claiming third-party certification, it is up to you to do your due diligence and verify the certification. For instance, if the organization says it is UL certified for ISO 9001, then UL would be able to verify that this is accurate.

To report such a situation, notify the owner of the logo or certification body. The certifying organization would then be responsible for ensuring the validity of the claim and for any next steps should the company be falsely claiming certification.

Any question or variation in a certification mark should be raised with the issuing body. Certificates issued by a certification body typically include an identifying logo of an accreditation body on them. Using the name on the logo, you can check the accreditation body’s website for a directory of accredited certification bodies. Contact the certification body that issued the certificate to verify its validity.

Certification bodies accredited by SCC are listed in SCC’s Directory of Accredited Certification Bodies, however it does not contain information on certificates issued by the certification bodies.

SCC is well-respected in Canada and around the world and consistently delivers high-quality and rigorous accreditation services.

As a member and signatory to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC), and the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), SCC can assess according to ISO standards and is subject to regular evaluation itself.  Accreditation by SCC helps certification bodies deliver services with confidence.

The benefits of accreditation are many. Accreditation can help:

• Improve your product’s  or system’s quality and safety
• Demonstrate your market accountability
• Bring you global recognition
• Reduce costs and increase efficiency
• Reduce your risk
• Offer you a competitive advantage

This program specialty area (PSA) applies to the accreditation of laboratories conducting tests and measurements on threaded fasteners and providing services that support fastener production, such as plating, producers of material destined for fastener manufacture, and commercial laboratories offering testing services. Testing conducted in the fasteners PSA is divided into five major areas:

• Chemical analysis
• Mechanical and physical testing and inspection
• Non-destructive inspection
• Dimensional inspection
• Metallography

Any complaints with an accredited organization must be submitted in writing to that organization. If it is not handled to the satisfaction of the complainant, it can be raised with SCC. SCC will review the accredited organization’s handling of the complaint from a process perspective. Please note that SCC can only deal with complaints regarding the requirements (standards) to which the organization is accredited, and not in matters such as invoicing and compensation.

Contact SCC to determine if your existing accreditation can be transferred. If the accreditation body you are transferring from is a recognized signatory of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the process of transferring is that much easier.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) offers accreditation to laboratories that undertake forensic testing. One of the key activities forensic laboratories undertake is the testing of physical evidence often at a crime scene or the scene of an accident. In addition to testing the evidence and issuing reports, forensic scientists frequently provide testimony on the test results for judicial applications. To ensure that this evidence stands up to scrutiny in court, it is imperative that the testing methods used by the laboratory have proven and documented credibility. Accreditation provides assurance that a forensic laboratory has adhered to recognized practices and standards. Forensic accreditation is one of 10 SCC Accreditation Program Specialty Areas. SCC offers accreditation in the following forensic disciplines:

• Biology/DNA analysis
• Chemistry/Trace analysis
• Counterfeits
• Drug chemistry
• Equine drug testing
• Explosives
• Firearms and tool marks
• Questioned documents examination
• Toxicology

The sale of uncertified electrical equipment may be unlawful, depending on the type of equipment and the jurisdiction it is being sold within. The regulator for the region will have more information on what the restrictions are and how to report attempts to sell unapproved equipment. Contact the Safety Authority Branch in your province (e.g., Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario) or, if the product is a consumer product, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Act Directorate.

The National Fire Code of Canada (NFC) is adopted as the minimum standard for the fire safe operation of buildings and facilities. The NFC is adopted by Canadian provinces and territories with or without modifications. For information on how the national model codes (building, fire and plumbing) are adopted in the various provinces and territories across Canada, visit the Canadian Codes Centre on the National Research Council Canada website.

The NFC establishes provisions to address the following three core objectives:

• safety
• health
• fire protection of buildings and facilities

For technical questions on code requirements, contact the Canadian provincial or territorial enforcing regulatory body or bodies, which can be found on the Code Authorities in Canada web page on the UL website. 

Electrical safety falls under the responsibility of provincial and territorial authorities. Provincially recognized certification marks confirm compliance of products that have an electrical component to the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) CAN/CSA C22.1 published by the CSA Group.

Certification marks are issued by SCC-accredited product certification bodies. Any certification mark originating from an SCC-accredited US-based certification body needs a small "c" in front of the mark to indicate to the user, inspector and retailer that, even though the mark is from the United States, the assessment of the product has complied with the CEC. To obtain the listing of provincial and territorial recognized electrical safety certification marks, contact your provincial or territorial electrical safety authority, which can be found on the Code Authorities in Canada web page on the UL website.

SCC supports Canadians and Canadian businesses in a number of ways, most notably by overseeing and coordinating the work of Canada's standardization network. Standards can support Canadian innovation by spreading technological knowledge and increasing market acceptance of new or innovative products.

SCC can help your business get involved in international standards development as a way to assert Canadian influence in the global marketplace and embed Canadian innovation, technology, products and services into the standards setting process internationally. In doing so, SCC can also help your business access new markets, reduce cost/increase revenue, gain a competitive advantage globally and manage business risk.

For information about how standardization can help your business, visit Information for Business and Industry.

In Canada, information on importing and exporting can be obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency.

Information on requirements that apply to imported products (such as whether they need to be certified as meeting particular standards) can be obtained from government organizations that administer these requirements. To search for the relevant mandatory requirements that apply to your product, refer to the database on the Canadian Legal Information website.

The Consumer Product Safety Directorate at Health Canada assists in the protection of Canadians by researching, assessing and collaborating in the management of the health risks and safety hazards of consumer products.

In Canada, information on importing and exporting can be obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency.

Export requirements are generally set by the country you are exporting to. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service may be able to help you obtain information on requirements for export markets.

If you are looking for information on exporting, Export Development Canada (EDC) is a great resource providing support for Canadian exporters. 

Occupational health and safety management systems provide a framework for managing an organization’s occupational health and safety responsibilities, which enable organizations to:

• Improve health and safety performance
• Reduce or prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredits certification bodies that assess and certify occupational health and safety management systems to the international standard ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety, as well as OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety Standard.

SCC accredits organizations that certify the management systems of medical device manufacturers to ISO 13485. SCC no longer accepts applicants into the Canadian Medical Devices Conformity Assessment System (CMDCAS) program. For more information, please contact the Health Canada, Therapeutic Products Directorate.

The Standards Council of Canada’s (SCC’s) Energy Management Systems Accreditation Program assesses the competence of bodies that intend to certify organizations in their implementation of the international standard, ISO 50001 – Energy Management Systems.

By establishing energy management systems and processes in accordance with ISO 50001, organizations can improve their overall energy performance, including energy efficiency, use and consumption. These improvements can lead to significant energy cost savings, as well as reduce an organization’s greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint), and other adverse environmental impacts.

SCC’s Energy Management Systems Accreditation Program accredits certification bodies that certify energy management systems in the following sectors:

•          Commercial buildings

•          Light and medium industry

•          Heavy industrial

•          Transportation

•          Building complex energy use

•          Energy providers

An environmental management system verifies the impact of an organization’s activities on the environment. Such systems help organizations to establish environmental goals and targets, and to evaluate how well they are being achieved.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredits certification bodies that assess and certify environmental management systems to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems standard.

View expected outcomes for accredited certification to ISO 14001

Forensic accreditation is one of 10 SCC Accreditation Program Specialty Areas. SCC offers accreditation in the following forensic disciplines:

• Biology/DNA analysis
• Chemistry/Trace analysis
• Counterfeits
• Drug chemistry
• Equine drug testing
• Explosives
• Firearms and tool marks
• Questioned documents examination
• Toxicology

SCC provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories that perform testing in the following areas:

• Biometric device testing
• Common criteria product and system evaluations
• ITS product reviews
• Secure electronic commerce application evaluations
• Specialized commercial security device testing
• Vulnerability and tiger team testing

SCC provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories conducting mineral and mineral assay analysis in support of the mining and mining exploration industries.

In order to add even greater value to its accreditation program, SCC accredits both single-element and multiple-element test methods for a wide variety of metals.

SCC offers accreditation in the following mineral analysis disciplines:

• sediments
• rocks
• ores
• metal products
• tailings
• water
• vegetation

This accreditation program applies to the accreditation of laboratories that develop test methods, validate test methods and/or evaluate test kits, and/or conduct non-routine testing in one or more testing areas.